Schiit Bifrost 2

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by RobS, Aug 28, 2019.

  1. ssmith3046

    ssmith3046 New

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    I was using my trusty modi multibit last night and it still makes me happy. I had a Bifrost multibit a few years ago but it sounded just like the modi multibit so I kept the modi and sold the Bifrost multibit. I might get around to Bifrost 2 eventually.
     
  2. Souldriver

    Souldriver Almost "Made"

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    I loved the BF2 so much I bought a second one to use with my upstairs bedroom chain for a little.

    My thoughts:
    • It had a special way with the bass. It really added a nice punch/slam that made drum hits and bass guitar licks stand out.
    • Very big on macrodynamics. This with my Atrium and my BHC made for a very grandiose but exaggerated presentation.
    • Definitely focuses on the fun aspects of music over extreme technicalities. It feels a bit looser and less exact, but keeps nice touches and nothing is a liability.
    • Good heft and body.

    For me it took 2-3x the BF2's price to replace it (theyre $500-600 if youre ok buying used) Things like the ECP Walnut X.3 bested it with technicalities, prat, detail, and agility, but i was too busy swooning over the bass slam and swinging dynamics.

    I am using a mojo audio v2xa right now that feels like a mix between the bf2 and walnut, but is surprisingly more towards the ECP. It has a more micro focus, and bass that reaches lower, but it makes me appreciate the bf2 more for what it does and how it still matches or beats out those dacs priced much higher.
     
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    Last edited: Jul 12, 2022
  3. internethandle

    internethandle Almost "Made"

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    Time has been very kind to my sonic memory of the BF2, yeah, even after moving on to A2 and LIM and all sorts of source nervosa. Really difficult for me to think of a sub $1K DAC that I feel reaches its price/performance. Have never heard a Modi Multibit, though, much less a hacked one.
     
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  4. sp33ls

    sp33ls Friend

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    ^ same boat as @internethandle

    Modi Multibit was my first. It's great. But, BF2 is a better buy IMO.

    My experience and recommendations at this point are segmented by budget.

    Yggdrasil (LiM) | BF2 | Modi 3+

    This has been experience with DACs. I've found that incremental changes are relatively subtle and thus your money is better spent elsewhere in the chain until you can make a more significant upgrade.

    Like, I wouldn't bother with Modi Multibit, but instead go straight to BF2 instead. Or sit on a Modi 3+ until you want to make that "investment."

    My BF2 is on my desk/gaming setup. It's damn close to the Yggdrasil LiM, not gonna lie.

    Random aside: I wonder what Schiit will do with their first upgrade card for the BF2, and when. Crazy to think I've already had mine for 2+ years now. Definitely put a lot of hours on mine through lockdowns. :)
     
  5. Souldriver

    Souldriver Almost "Made"

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    Same here. Bf2 > rnhp > lcd-x / hd800s

    That is avout as high as i want to go on that chain. All else is lost on a noisier pc chain.
     
  6. internethandle

    internethandle Almost "Made"

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    https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sch...bable-start-up.701900/page-6444#post-17061189

    ^Jason’s post on the new BF2 DAC upgrade card with TI8812’s a la LIM, the “Bifrost 2/64”.

    To sum up from what I’ve read so far, it’s pretty exciting:

    - 4 x 8812’s vs. 2 x AD5781’s = hardware-balanced
    - lower than -100db THD+N (-102db typical), lower than any of the other true multibit lineup
    - NOS mode (!!!)
    - a clear subjective preference for the new card vs. the old one among the Schiit crew, as opposed to a more equivocal response for LIM vs. MIL vs. OG in the Yggdrasil

    I was big enough of a fan of the original BF2 that I’m very tempted to buy a new one. If I like it enough vs. LIM…

    Can’t wait for impressions.
     
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    Last edited: Jul 22, 2022
  7. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    Very exciting. $300 for an upgrade shoots it almost past a used Gungnir, which makes me curious what the roadmap is for that (I haven't followed along in a bit since I am happy with my BF2).
     
  8. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    I wonder if it loses the bass slammyness that I enjoyed on the now OG BF2 card. Another concern is if the Unbal/BAL performance are different now (sounds worse from Unbal than BAL, which is one reason why I really like the BF2).
     
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  9. nishan99

    nishan99 Friend

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    Well, if the SE output of the new card is still better than the SE out of the OG that would be awesome.
    The BAL being better is almost certain given the design.
     
  10. roshambo123

    roshambo123 Friend

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    NOS mode notwithstanding, how close is it to a LIM? Pretty interesting launch. I heard the old BF2 was pretty close to there. Also wonder if it thins out a bit, and is now a match for the Jot 2. I think it was too thicc before according to Marv.
     
  11. Martigane

    Martigane Acquaintance

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    The APX measurement report on Schiit website shows great improvements over "old BF2", especially on IMD distortion (between 20 and 40dB improvement!), which was my main gripe on the BF2.
    God, original BF2 sounds so good right now it does not even tickle me to try the upgrade. But let's see :)

    Looks like Gungnir will slowly die of age.
     
  12. HotRatSalad

    HotRatSalad Friend

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    Wow so many exciting and cool developments. I really love BF2, I was lucky enough to get a gungnir A2 for a banging deal as well. I seem to prefer BF2 on headphones and gungnir on my speaker rigs. Will order the upgrade kit eventually, wondering if you need another sd card with stock BF2 firmware if you switch back though.
     
  13. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    Good calls. I only use SE out to an SW51 which would depend on both remaining strong.
     
  14. Beefy

    Beefy Friend

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    SE outputs look to be driven from U17, an OPA1656. Should be relatively transparent.

    There are OPA1656 upstream of the balanced outputs as well. Schiit knows what they are doing with these as analog stages, so I wouldn't be concerned.
     
  15. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    As long as mine lives forever I'm OK with that.
     
  16. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    I was not a big fan of BF2 (too thick, slightly compressed compared to higher end Schiit DACs, sizzly treble and the Gungnir Multibit A2 I have smokes it balanced)... I heard the new BF64 at the Texas Audio Show briefly but it was out of an unfamiliar amp, although it did not sound as warm as I remember and NOS mode was immediately apparent (typical NOS attributes)... we will have to see. From what I gather Gungnir still has better clocking schemes for spdif inputs (and I still think spdif is better than Unison), so there is still value in upgrading.
     
  17. Kernel Kurtz

    Kernel Kurtz Friend

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    Yeah, good question. Would not want it to be a one-way upgrade, the ability to revert is important.

    I also use the BF2 for headphones and the Gungnir for speakers, but as much as I enjoy both systems for different reasons, I still mostly use the headphones in the summer months and the 2 channel when it is cooler and does not tax the AC.

    I'm still waiting for the Urd, if it ever actually happens, at which point I will send in my Gungnir for the Unison upgrade. The BF2 will serve for whichever system is in use at the time. I think I will do this upgrade beforehand. Just because LOL.
     
  18. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    It looks like it is reversible: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sch...bable-start-up.701900/page-6451#post-17062069
     
  19. HotRatSalad

    HotRatSalad Friend

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  20. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    Gungnir is too good and different to die for me.

    I do hope there's a Gungnir 2 though with the modularity of Bifrost 2. Along with remote control. I'm pretty sure it's already in the works
     

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